Phl now member of UN group vs piracy

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has been officially admitted as member of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) in the global effort against piracy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday.

Republic of Korea Permanent Representative and chair of the 7th CGPC Plenary Meeting Ambassador Hayoong Moon announced the membership of the Philippines during the CGPCS 7th Plenary Meeting on Nov. 10 at the UN headquarters in New York attended by 50 member-nations with eight international organizations and five shipping industry groups.

“This is an important membership for us as the Contact Group is the primary global body that is taking direct action on multiple levels to address the serious problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia,” said Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Libran Cabactulan.

The CGPCS was established on Jan. 14, 2009 pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1851 to facilitate action among member-states and organizations to suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Apart from 50 member-states, members of the Contact Group are the African Union, the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the UN Secretariat.

“We intend to work closely with the other members of the Contact Group as we are determined to protect our Filipino seafarers from this scourge,” Cabactulan said.

Cabactulan said the Philippine government made clear its position against piracy in Somalia, pointing out the high number of Filipino seafarers held hostage by pirates.

Cabactulan said the Group recognized the important contribution of Filipino seafarers to the shipping industry as well as the Philippine government’s determination to protect their rights and welfare.

Filipino seafarers account for almost 30 percent of the global sea-borne manpower.

“We will not rest as long as a single Filipino seafarer remains a hostage or any Filipino seafarer is endangered by pirates,” Cabactulan stressed.

The Philippine government closely cooperates with the shipping industry regarding the application of best management practices in the training and deployment of Filipino seafarers, particularly those who serve on ships traversing high-risk waters.

At the domestic level, the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs closely coordinates with the Philippine embassies involved and the seafarers’ manning agencies to get updates on negotiations between the pirates and the ships’ principals, as well as to ensure the safety and well being of the seafarers.

The Philippine government recently dispatched Armed Forces liaison officer Navy Lt. Gaudencio Rosales to work and coordinate with the Joint Naval Forces on anti-piracy efforts at the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

The Philippine delegation also expressed the Philippines’ deep appreciation to the CGPCS members whose individual and collective efforts have contributed to protecting the sea-lanes in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, making it safe for navigation and indirectly benefiting the Filipino seafarers.

Turkey will chair the next CGPCS 8th plenary meeting in March 2011 in New York.